Shelter wish list Sunday additions – Rain ponchos, jackets and umbrellas

I just updated the “top needs” section of the shelters’ donation webpage to include:

• Rain ponchos/jackets
• Umbrellas

If you are outside or look out your window or at this week’s weather forecast, you’ll know why. Many Minnesotans cozied up to shelter in place yesterday away from the threat of coronavirus and away from the cold and rain. Most of our guests were not as lucky. Like many adult shelters we are open overnight, not during the day, so our guests are left to wander all day long. The malls are closed, restaurants are closed, the libraries are closed and, as we learned from guests last night, access to Metro Transit is restricted.

Guests report that they were restricted from Metro Transit if they didn’t have documentation saying they were going to work. Some even reported being moved away from transit stops and shelters. By the time our doors were open they were wet and cold and tired. As we all would be.

The immediate solution? We are in search of rain ponchos, jackets and umbrellas.  You can drop off items from 6-9pm. (Or, we have had a generous volunteer to help with delivery.)